Reed organ



June 7, 1966 YosHlAKl FUKUsHlMA 3,254,553

REED ORGAN 4 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Nov. 8, 1963 FIG 1 June 7, 1966lllllllllllllll MA 3,254,553

RRRRRRR AN June 7, 1966 YcsHlAKl FUKusHlMA 3,254,553

REED ORGAN Filed Nov. 8, 1963 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 1f .f 242 2,5 2f 36 342'2 26 iii-3;" @wg 25 2# av 2/ a 39 9 39 INVENTOR.

BY Wfl/M azz@ June 7, 1966 YosHlAKl FUKUsHlMA 3,254,553

REED oRGAN 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Nov' 8, 1965 FIG 5 1NVENToR.

United States Patent 3,254,553 REED ORGAN Yoshiak Fukushma, 1Higashinocho, Saikaya-machi, Wakayama-shi, Japan Filed Nov. 8, 1963,Ser. No. 322,290 9 Claims. (Cl. 84--365) This invention relates to apianoforte organ and its devices, in which the intensity of sound can becontrolled by individual valve devices which respond directly to thespeed with which individual keys are depressed, and in addition effectssuch as prolongation of sound can easily be accomplished even after thefinger releases the key through a so-called sustain-pedal forprolongingsound.

The object of the .present invention is to provide a reed organ whichmakes it possible to control the intensity or volume of sound at theplayers will by changing the speed or strength with which the finger tiptouches the key as is possible with a pianoforte. Another object of theinvention isto provide a reed organ which is enabled to achieve aprolonging effect of sound through a sustainpedal or. prolonging-soundpedal, without vanishing instantly after the finger tip leaves the key,as is the case with a pianoforte. Still another object of the inventionis to provide a reed organ which is made to accomplish a soft effect ofsound by treading-down on a separate foot pedal (so-called soft-pedal)as well as pianoforte. Other features of the invention reside in thenovel constraction and arrangement of parts hereinafter described andparticularly pointed out in the appended claims.

With usual reed organs, the intensity of the generated sound has neverbeen controlled yby changing the speed of key touch, as is possible withpianoforte and moreover do not have so-called prolongation effect ofsound, that is, sound remaining even after the finger tip leaves thekey. The usual reed organs are not perfect musical instruments for play,having the aforementioned serious deficiencies.

However, this invention is la reedorgan which enables its player tocontrol the intensity of sound in proportion to the speed of key touch,as well as to prolong sound even after separation of the finger tip fromthe key, and therefore to play a more versatile and expressive tune 'atplayers own will. Thus, this invention remarkably and effectivelyimproves the characteristics of reed organs as a musical instrument onlyby the installation of my simprincipal portion of this'instrument suchas valves and their related parts.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary front view showing valves and their holders indetail.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary cross sectional view showing the state whengeneration of sound is minimized.

FIG. 5 is 'a'fragmentary cross sectional view showing the state whengeneration of sound is maximized.

Referring now to the figures, each valve 1 is a cube made of Vrelativelysoft material such as synthetic resin, arranged so that it maycompletely check the flow of air by covering the upper open end (mouth)of the reed chamber 19 and it does not come in contact with the adjacentvalves.` The bottom of the valve 1 has an air control projection 2consisting of right-angled triangular and cylindrical faces which fitsinto the reed chamber to control the flow of air and hence volume ofsound. The -front of the valve 1 has a convex face 3 and a stopperprojection 5 in sequence from the top. The top of the valve 1 is fixedto the supporter 6 of the same width.

3,254,553 Patented June 7, 1966 perpendicular to the side and the holder18 is fitted into the supporter 6 so that the valve 1 may freely rotatearound the pin 7 as axis. The convex face 3 and the cylindrical face ofthe air control projection 2 are situatedV on arc(s) of circle(s) withthe same or varied radii and the same center at the point on the pin 7.An adjust bolt 8 is screwed in from the upper to the lower side near thefront end of the supporter 6. The lower end of the bolt 8 fits into thethrust-up receiver 9. Elastic material for cushioning is attached to thelower surface of the receiver 9 to eliminate occurrence of impulsivesound. Between the top of the adjust bolt 8 and the upper surface of theholder 6 as well as between the lower surface of the holder 6 and theupper surface of the thrust receiver 9, proper gaps are arranged so thatkeyboard and other obstacles. The support plate 12 for l -the thrust-upplate 13 is installed on the rear part 10 of the key 10 which issituated lower than the supporting pivot 11 of the key 1l). Thethrust-up plate 13 is made of strong material such as metal and itscenter is securely attached to the *support` plate 12 by the screw bolt16.

The catcher tongue 14, which is made of soft material such as syntheticresin and a little longer than the thrustup plate 13 is attached to theplate 13, protruding so as to nearly contact with the valve 2.

The thrust-up plate 13 with the catcher tongue 14 is attached to thesupport plate 12 by the nut 15 in such a manner that they may beadjusted backward or forward to someextent. The cushion felt is `setunder the front end of the key for damping of the impact caused when thekey is depressed. The sound prolonger 23 which consists of valveStoppers 25 arranged in parallel on the lateral piston beam 24 extendingthe full width of the keyboard. Each valve stopper 25 and thecorresponding stopper projection 5 face each other. The piston beam 24is held away from the valve 1 by the pull spring 29. In order to advancethe piston beam 24 toward the valve, the pull cords 26 are connected toboth ends of the beam 24, and to the sustain-pedal 44 through the guideroller 27.

In order that the valve stopper 25 and the tip of the catcher tongue 14are not resistive against upward pressure, but pretty resistive againstdownward pressure, the under faces of said stopper 25 and tongue 14 arenotched, or on each upper face small pieces separated into two platesare joined together by a skin, and the notches or the joints are placedbefore the rear end 24 of the beam piston and the tip of the thrust-upplate 13 respectively, and moreover said stopper 25 and tongue14 arefixed by bolts ahead of the notches or the joints. Each adjust screw 34is screwed into the cushion felt rail 36 for adjusting the key and issituated in front of and under the corresponding inclined plane 10l ofthe key, acting on the inclined plane 10 upward through the thickcushion felt 35 which covers the screw, so that the front of the key maybe normally placed.

On the front of the main rail 530, the front lid l31 covering thekeyboard is attached by hinges, under which are arranged `the book shelf33. On `the rear of the main rail 30, the back lid 32 is similarlyattached Iby hinges. By naising the back lid 32 such operations asrepairing, tuning, adjusting and inspecting are `instantly possible. Theraised lid also serves as a sounding board, making it possible to listento the `sound satisfactorily as is just the case with a pianoforte.

On the upper -face of the .main nail 30, there is the convenientconca-vity 31 yfor holding a pen or others.

Now, let us describe on the reed 2x1. In order to improve the tone colorand ttone volume as well as for reducing cost, several reeds areattached in parallel to one reed plate 24) in one reed chamber, whileusual reed organs have a single reed )for :a single reed plate. The reedchamber has the open end rfacing upward and the plug 38 at the bottom inlorder to form the best air cylinder for pronunciat-ion of the reed.Th-is plug is -made of relatively soft material, but the hard resonanceplate 38' for reectinig sound is attached to tthe top.

Sound `chamber 22 Iserves not only ttor `resounding but also reducingpressure as suction chamber. The resonance p-late 40 has the resonancehole 40 rfor taking out the sound internally generated. Covering theresonance hole 40', the resonance diaphragm 41 made of strong materialsuch `as metal is attached in order to permit free propagation of soundand yet prohibit leakage of air. Furthermore, the circumference of thehole is strictly fixed by the fastener plate 42.

The mute y43 is arranged so that the vibration of the resonanceydiaphragm 411 may be restricted by the contact of the mute with thediaphragm through lthe medium of the pull cord 46 when the Sofft-pedal45 is trodden down.

Pressure reduction wit-hin the suction chamber 2.2 can be accomplishedby an electric blower. (The blower is not illustrated.)

In operation, prior to the performance ofthe instrument, the player-iirst works to lower pressure within the suction chamber 2 2 bydrivin-g the elec-tric blower and then presses down the `fron-t part ofthe key. By `this operation, 'the rear pant 10 of the key is raisedtogether with the thrustup plate 13. When the Ifront part 10" of the keyis depressed by approximately one-third of `the entire stro-ke, thecatcher tongue I14 attached tothe plate 13 impinges on the thrust-upreceiver 9. rI`he intensity of the impact imparted `to the receiver 9depends upon 'the intensity or speed of key touch. When the receiver 9is pushed up at a very high speed then the valve 1 jumps up considerablyhig-h and the air control projection 2 leaves the mouth of the reedchamber 19, thereby causing -full opening of the valve and consequentlybringing about the loudest sound. (This condition is shown on `FIG. 5.)On the other hand, when the key is touched extremely slowly, the catchertongue 14 touches the receiver 9 without impact 'and therefore lthereceiver 9 is raised slow-ly as if combined in one body with the catchertongue and shortly stops and as sho-wn in IFIG. 4, the flow of air tothe reed chamber t19 and accordingly propagation of generated sound arerestricted, resulting in 'the weakest sound.

Besides these two extreme sounds as ab-ove-mentioned, also several stepsof intermediate sounds can be obtained corresponding -to the 4speed ofkey touch, I-f the catcher tongue .14 were not provided in the reedorgan, temporary outbreak of sound would instantly vanish because thevalve i1 rap-idly would fall down due to its gravity as seen in FIG. 4,thus leaving the situation remarkably different from such cases inpianoforte as is imparted sound `of gradually-damping eiect of sound. Inthis invention the catcher tong-ue y14 is devised in order to create areed organ which would emulate either in damping or pro-longinggenerated sound or mainta-ining the intensity or volume of the generatedsound as it is. Even aifter the catcher tongue 14 completes the raisingof the receiver 9 through the aid of the thrust-up plate 13 and therebyraising the valve .1, the sprung state will continue until the playerceases the depressing action of the iront part 10 of the key to returnto its original position. The ability to continue the sprung positionarises from the fact that by pressing down of the front part y10 of thekey the catcher tongue 14 advances a little toward the valve 1 as welltas rising vertically because the position of the catcher tongue 14 ismade lower than that of the supporting pivot `1'1 of the key. Moreover,as the tip of the catcher tongue |14 is made tolerant against the upwardpressure, resistive against the downward pressure, so the upward jumpingof the valve 1 is not restricted. The useless excess jumping, however,can be avoided, because the stopper projection 5 is so arranged as t-ohit the hard tip of the thrust-up plate 13.

The operation of the sustaining (or prolonging) sound device of thisinvention is described as follows:

In case of need to sustain the generated sound even after separation ofthe nger tip tfroim the depressed key, the sustain-pedal 44 is tto .betrodden down, so that the piston beam 24 is advanced a little toward thevalve 1 by the pull cord 46 connected to the pedal. As also the valveStoppers 25 arranged in parallel on the piston beam 24 are 'made so thatthey may be non-resistive Iagainst upward pressure but remark-ablyresistive against downward pressure, it is easy for the stopperprojection 5 of the valve 1 to be raised pushing up the advanced valvestopper 25V, while the valve stopper 25 resisting the downward forceprevents the raised valve from falling down below a preestablished pointeven when the valve 1 is released from the catcher tongue =14 and .aboutto close the mouth of t-he reed chamber 19. Thus, the generated soundmay be sustained instead of vanishing. When the player stops treadingdown the sustain-pedal 44, the piston beam 2`4 leaves the valve 1 by theforce of the pull spring 29 which is pulled away to separate the pistonbeam 24 from the valve .1, and therefore the valve 1 'becomes free fromthe valve stopper 25 which has preventedV the valve 1 from `falling downup to this instant. Thus, sound is terminated.

Thus, according to this invention as is obvious from the `foregoingdescrip-tion, the intensity or volume of sound produced at the playersown will can be controlled eX- actly by changing the strength or speed,with which the `finger tip touches the key .10. The playing condition ofkey Itouch is completely responsive resembling that of pianoforte,because the valve 1 and the keyboard 10 are .individually Xed tfaoingeach other. Furthermore, sustaining and damping of the sound producedcan easily be accomplished by the operation through the pedals,prolongation of sound which has been impossible in usual reed organsbeing realized to be possi'ble at the players own will and also possibleto play very versatile and expressive tunes. Besides, this invention hasmany other advantages such as simplicity in the construction and lownessin the production cost and others, as there is no place to requirerepairing in the interior of the structure, and lit is convenientlylaccessible for repairing, tun-ing, adjusting, and inspecting. Thus,this reed organ of my pianoforte organ according to ythis invention hasmany remarkable effects of specially improved and new performance.

I claim:

1. A reed organ comprising a plurality of reed chambers, air evacuationmeans coupled to said reed chambers for evacuating air therefrom, saidreed chambers each having an air inlet opening therein, a plurality ofvalve members, one covering said opening and movable away from theopening for admitting a progressively greater amount of air to the reedchamber, and a plurality of valve actuating keys resiliently pivotallysuspended at a point intermediate the length thereof, one key for eachreed chamber, one end of each key being adap-ted to be pressed by afinger of a player on the organ for pivoting the key from a lirstposition and the other end of the key being positioned `adjacent saidvalve member and abuttable with the valve member immediately the saidone end of the key is moved from said first position for moving the saidvalve member relative to the reed chamber opening a progressivelygreater distance as the said one end of the key is moved further fromsaid rst position.

2. A reed organ as claimed in claim 1 in which each said valve memberhas a projection thereon extending 5 into the air inlet opening of thecorresponding reed chamber and 4having a cross section which decreasesin a direction away from the valve member.

3. A reed organ as claimed in claim 1 in which said air inlet openingsopen upwardly, said valve members being pivoted on said organ on oneside of the air inlet openings and said keys being pivoted on the otherside of said. air inlet openings, said valve members each having athrust receiving projection thereon extending toward .a correspondingkey and engageable by said other end of said key for pivoting thevalvemember about the pivotal mounting thereof.

4. A reed organ .as claimed in claim Sin which each said key is pivotedabout a point which is at a lower level than the pivotal mounting of thecorresponding valve member, and the said other end of said key is spacedY laterally of said thrust receiving projection on s-aid valve member inthe said first position of said key, whereby when said one end of saidkey is depressed, the other end of the key moves upwardly and towardsaid thrust receiving projection.

5. A reed organ as claimed in claim 3 in which the said other end ofeach key has a support plate mounted thereon and projecting toward thecorresponding valve member, a substantially rigid thrust plate mountedon the bottom of said support plate, and a partially flexible tonguesecured between said thrust plate and said support plate and projectingfurther toward said valve member than said thrust plate, said tonguebeing the portion of said key engageable with said valve member, saidthrust Aplate being adjustably mounted on said support plate for stopperprojections when said valve members are in the fully open position, andvalve' stopper actuating means connected to said valve stoppe-rs formoving said valve Stoppers toward and away from said valve member.

7. A reed organ as claimed in claim 6 in which said valve stopperactuating means comprise a spring connected to each valve stopper urgingsaid valve Stoppers laway from said valve members, and a foot pedal andcoupling means coupled between said foot pedal and said valve Stoppersfor moving said valve Stoppers toward said valve members against theaction of said springs when said foot pedal is actuated.

8. A reed organ as claimed in claim 3 in which the pivotal mounting forsaid keys each comprises a spring steel plate secured to the key and tosaid organ and eX- tending in a substantially vertical plane between theorgan and said key.

9. A reed organ as claimed in claim 2 in which said reed organ has reedopenings in said reed chambers, and further comprises a resonancechamber into which the reed openings open, a resonance opening in saidresonance chamber, a diaphragm over said resonance opening, a mutemember movable Vagainst said diaphragm and away from said diaphragm, andmute moving means connected to said mute member for moving said mutemember.

References Cited bythe Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 812,995 2/1906IHerrmann 84-366 1,232,744 7/1917 Wisker 84-365 1,831,734 l1/1931Arostegui 84-425 2,974,555 3/ 1961 Andersen 84-225 X 3,064,517 ll/l962Choshi Enya 84-357 X 3,141,368 7/1964 Von Gunten 84-245 X LEO SMILOW,Primary Examiner.

C. M. OVERBEY, Assistant Examiner.

1. A REED ORGAN COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF REED CHAMBERS, AIR EVACUATIONMEANS COUPLED TO SAID REED CHAMBERS FOR EVACUATING AIR THEREFROM, SAIDREED CHAMBERS EACH HAVING AN AIR INLET OPENING THEREIN, A PLURALITY OFVALVE MEMBERS, ONE COVERING SAID OPENING AND MOVABLE AWAY FROM THEOPENING FOR ADMITTING A PROGRESSIVELY GREATER AMOUNT OF AIR TO THE REEDCHAMBER, AND A PLURALITY OF VALVE ACTUATING KEYS RESILIENTLY PIVOTALLYSUSPENDED AT A POINT INTERMEDIATE THE LENGTH THEREOF, ONE KEY FOR EACHREED CHAMBER, ONE END OF EACH KEY BEING ADAPTED TO BE PRESSED BY AFINGER OF A PLAYER ON THE ORGAN FOR PIVOTING THE KEY FROM A FIRSTPOSITION AND THE OTHER END OF THE KEY BEING POSITIONED ADJACENT SAIDVALVE MEMBER AND ABUTTABLE WITH THE VALVE MEMBER IMMEDIATELY THE SAIDONE END OF THE KEY IS MOVED FROM SAID FIRST POSITION FOR MOVING THE SAIDVALVE MEMBER RELATIVE TO THE REED CHAMBER OPENING A PROGRESSIVELYGREATER DISTANCE AS THE SAID ONE END OF THE KEY IS MOVED FURTHER FROMSAID FIRST POSITION.